Childminder in Bromley

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY345874 Inspection date 02/06/2010 Inspector Rebecca Hurst

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder registered in 2006. She lives with her partner and two children aged three and eight in Beckenham, Bromley. The whole ground floor and one bedroom on the first floor of the childminder's home are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. There are currently five children on roll, of which two are in the early years age range. The childminder is currently registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are very happy, settled and thriving. The childminder creates a safe and secure environment, where children are valued and supported to make the most of their abilities. The childminder always makes time to talk to the children and play with them, helping them to feel comfortable around her. Warm, positive and trusting relationships enable children to feel safe and secure. The childminder continually evaluates the activities and experiences she offers the children, always seeking to improve their learning opportunities, working towards the best possible outcomes for children. The childminder has a high capacity to maintain continuous improvement, because she seeks to improve her knowledge and understanding of children's early years through on going training opportunities.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 enhance resources to promote equal opportunites

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the early years provision

Children are kept safe and secure, due to clear and concise risk assessments for both the home and outings. Clear and accurate records are kept, including an attendance register, which ensures the safeguarding of children. The childminder has an excellent understanding of the procedures to be followed to protect children and knows how to make an appropriate referral if she is worried about a child. The childminder's concise policies and procedures ensure parents are fully informed about all aspects of her provision. All adults in home have a completed Criminal This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Records Bureau check in place. This enhances greatly the children's safety, health and welfare.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good amount of resources that promote diversity. The childminder ensures children learn about festivals and celebrations from around the world at an age appropriate level. The childminder finds out about the children's backgrounds and uses this information to plan effective activities to aid the children's learning. The childminder asks parents to come in and cook food from their family's background. This teaches the children about different peoples backgrounds and the food they eat. This also builds the children's self-esteem and their confidence. Consequently, children are able to have fun and learn about exciting topics.

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the early years provision

During the childminder's highly effective self-evaluation process, she has highlighted several areas she wishes to improve upon. One of these areas is resources that promote positive images of people with disabilities. The childminder is aware that she needs to enhance this area of learning to allow the children to learn more about people with disabilities. The childminder seeks parents advice for her provision through well thought out questionnaires. The childminder effectively uses the responses to enhance her provision further.

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the early years provision

Resources are very effectively arranged and organised, creating enabling environments for children to play and learn. Children are confident and independent learners. They have easy access to low-level furniture and a wide range and variety of exciting toys and play materials, strongly supporting their enjoyment and achievement.

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the early years provision

The childminder is driving improvement through her ambition to train, by ongoing attendance at training courses. She constantly seeks to improve her childcare practice so that children have enjoyable and challenging play and learning experiences. The childminder has a natural affinity with children, anticipating and responding well to their welfare and development needs.

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the early years provision

Communication with parents is excellent. Parents are encouraged to say what their children enjoy, are like at home and to describe what they have done over the weekend; the childminder builds on these experiences when planning. The two- way flow engages parents very well and enables them to make active contributions, promoting the learning and well-being of children in the setting. The childminder works very well with the local pre-schools the children attend. She discusses with staff what they are doing with the children and any plans. The childminder uses this information to enhance the children's individual plans, to ensure continuity of care with their learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children happily explore and experiment. They use an excellent range of different materials and resources in a safe, supportive and caring environment, helping them to confidently practise and acquire new skills. Children receive plenty of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 attention, with the childminder listening and responding to them throughout their activities and daily routines.

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and outcomes for children

Written observations in the children's portfolio of their attainments, interests and learning styles are supported well with photographic and creative evidence. Parents and carers enjoy these very clear visual images of their children's experiences; they take them home on a regular basis to keep up to date with their child's progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children are clearly making excellent progress from their starting points. The childminder ensures that all observations have the next steps completed on them and uses this information to successfully progress the children in their development. Children enjoy an excellent balance of indoor and outdoor activities, which cover all six areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel very safe and secure in the care of the childminder. They are offered warmth and security, along with consistent and familiar routines. Children show they feel safe by being confident and independent learners who make choices, help themselves to toys and readily approach the childminder if they need help or a cuddle.

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and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy the process of making play dough, which the childminder makes fun and exciting for the children. The children talk about the ingredients with the childminder and describe the flour falling like the snow. The children measure out the ingredients with the aid of the childminder and count the number of ingredients that go into the mixture. The children try to guess the smell of the essence that is being used in the play dough. The children use lots of descriptive words to describe what they are doing. The childminder enhances the activities by using many open-ended questions to make the children think about what they are doing.

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and outcomes for children

Children take great pride in the flowers and the vegetables they are growing. They describe how they planted them and ensure they keep them watered to aid their growing. The children regularly measure the plants to see how well they have grown, writing down the numbers on the tape measure. This greatly enhances the children's learning of the world around them and where food comes from.

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and outcomes for children

Steps taken to safeguard children include effective child protection and fire evacuation procedures, close and supportive supervision, for example, when playing in the garden. The childminder also allows the children to take calculated risks, such as playing on the swing set in the back garden and cooking. The childminder explains to the children about the safety issues during an activity and what they need to do to keep themselves safe. This allows the children to progress with their development as well as being aware of the risks involved in their play.

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and outcomes for children

Children play and move around in a hygienically clean, tidy and well organised home that promotes their health and welfare. They enjoy healthy and nutritious snacks and plenty of drinks. Children are offered and enjoy a good variety of fresh fruit. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children's independence skills are greatly enhanced during meal times. Children are able to self-select what fruit they would like and cut it up; they all talk about their favourite fruits and what is healthy. Children also pour their own drinks, which further enhances their learning skills.

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and outcomes for children

House rules encourage social skills and consideration for others. As a result, all children are very well behaved. Children are developing excellent skills for the future through support in using a very wide range of learning resources. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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